Counting relay signaling apparatus



Dec. 24, 1946. v. LEWIS COUNTING RELAY SIGNALING APPARATUS 2Sheets-Sheet i i d d a. Q Q

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Filed Nov. 18, 1944 INVENTO Lloyd I fLewlJ.

515 ATTORNEY. 1

' Dec. 24, 1946.

L. V. LEWIS COUNTING RELAY SIGNALING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m 3 mwwji mww INVENTOR I Ll Filed Nov. 18, 1944 BY a1 H15 ATTORNEY PatentedDec. 24, 1946 2,413,110 COUNTING RELAYSIGNALING APPARATUS LloydV.'Lewis, Pittsburgh, -Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & SignalCompany, .Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationNovember18, 1944, Serial No. 564,045

'10 Claims. 3

My invention relates to signaling apparatus, and more particularly to asystem of relays for counting diiierent numbers of impulses. In itsspecific embodiment as shown, my invention is employed in controlapparatus for yard track indicators for railroads for selectivelylighting oneof a plurality of numbered signal lamps for informingtrainmen on which of a plurality of. yard tracks to place their train,and is an improvement upon the apparatus for that purpose disclosed inmy Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,972,941, issued September11, 1934.

A feature of my invention is the provision of an improved relay chain inwhich the relays are operated one at a time in order in response to aseries of impulses, without the use of auxiliary or halfstep relays orthe like as required heretofore, thereby decreasing the number ofrelays.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of a system of relaysof this character which is self checking, characterized by the provisionof a temporary holding circuit for the relays so arranged that anycounting relay which fails to respond to its assigned impulse isrendered incapable of responding to any succeeding impulse.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of novel means bywhich a system of relays of the type described i adapted to generate theimpulses by which the relays are controlled and in which the impulsesgenerated by one chain of relays operates another similar chain .ofrelays located at a distant point.

I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention and amodification thereof, and shall then point out the novel featuresthereof in claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows one form ofsignaling system embodying my invention as applied to the control of ayard indicator IS over a pair of line wires Y and Z, from a centraloffice or tower. The yard indicator IS may be located adjacent theentrance to a series of yard tracks like the similar device S of myprior patent and includes a series of twenty numbered lamps which areselectively lighted by the operation of a control unit .ICU controlledby a line relay ILR. To light any one of the indicator lamps, theoperatcrfirst closes a switch 2G to energize relay ILR, and thenoperates a dial switch to interrupt the line circuit a number of timescorresponding to thenumber which he desires to display. The lamp whichilluminates the selected number becomes lighted when the interruptionscease and remains lighted until the signal is acknowledged by thetrainman trol unit iCU or ZCU as used in the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the signaling system of Fig. 1, in whichthe impulses for selecting the yard indicator lamps are generated by theoperation of a transmitter relay T controlled bythe ofiice control unitZCU, under the control of a group of individual keys KI-Kiil by whichthe different lamps are selected. In this form the switches 2G and L andthe miniature indicator QS-arenot used, the position of the operated keyK-indicating which lamp is lighted.

Fig. .4 shows the circuits in detail for a control unit similar to thatof Fig. 2 but including the circuits for controlling the transmitterrelay T by thekeysKl-Klll, which "circuits are substituted for=those bywhich the indicator lamps are controlled in Fig. 2. It will beunderstood that the control units'may be used interchangeably as atransmitter controlled by a group of keys as in Fig. '4, was a receiverto control a group of lamps as in Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of theviews.

:Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the control unit comprises agroup of relays controlled by the line relay 'LR, all of which arenormally deenergized. These include two'slow releaserelaysLCaandLOenergized when the line is closed and open respectivelyand remain picked up duringithe periodic operation of relay LR, a chainof counting relays :R.| R|9 which pick up one at a time in order,thereby registering one to ten interruptions, respectively, of the linecircuit, a chain repeat relay CRwhich is picked up by relay RM -.tocondition the counting relays RIR9 to operate through-a second cycle toregister nine additional interruptions of the line circuit, and acounting relay R20 which operates in place-of relay RID to register thetwentieth interruption and,is;als o operated when the line circuit isfirst closed 'to render relay RI responsive to the first of aseries ofinterruptions.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it is to be understood that the :device L is anordinary telephone dial switch except that the number 10 replaces therectifier energized from the same source, as shown in my prior patent.to simplify the drawings only the terminals of the direct current sourceare shown, these being designated by the reference characters B and C,respectively. Furthermore, it is desirable to indicate to the operatorwhen power is available for lighting the lamps of the indicator IS inthe yard, and this is accomplished by obtaining the current forenergizin the line circuit from terminals B and C of the source in theyard, as shown in Fig. l, and by providing a lamp E at the office whichbecomes lighted when relay 2LR is energized by current from the distantsource, in response to the closing of switch 2G.

The mode of operation of the control unit of Fig. 2 will now bedescribed assuming first that the operator closes switch 2G to energizethe line relay LR, corresponding to relays ILR and 2LR of Fig. 1.

When relay LR picks up, it closes a circuit for relay R extending fromterminal B at front contact a of relay ILR over back contacts a, b andh, respectively, of relays LC, L0 and RIO, through relay R20 to terminalC. Relay R20 picks up, completing a pick-up circuit at its contact 9 forrelay LC, which relay then picks up to establish a stick circuit at itsown front contact a and to open the pick-up circuit for relay R20, whilecompleting a first stick circuit for that relay which extends fromterminal B at contact 0 of relay LC over front contact b of relay LR,back contact 0 of relay RI and the front contact a and winding of relayR20 to terminal C. The closing of contact 6 of relay LC of the oflicecontrol unit-causes lamp E to become lighted.

I shall now assume that the operator dials the number two, for example,operating the dial switch L so as to interrupt the line circuit twice.

In response to the first interruption, the energizing circuits forrelays LC and R20 are opened by the release of relay LR, but currentcontinues to flow through the windings of these relays to hold thempicked up temporarily due to the connection of rectifiers 2I and 22across their terminals, and the pick-up circuit for relay RI is closed,which circuit extends from terminal B at back contact a of relay LR overfront contact b of relay LC, back contacts b of relays R0 and R9, backcontact 0 of relay CR, and front contact b of relay R20 through relay Rlto terminal C. Relay RI picks up, and its contact c disconnectsrectifier 22 from the winding of relay R20 and closes a second stickcircuit for relay R20 which extends from terminal B at contact c ofrelay LC over back contact 12 of relay LR, resistor 23, front contact 0of relay RI, and the front contact a and winding of relay R20 toterminal C. At the same time, relay LO picks up over back contact a ofrelay LR and front contact bof relay LC and by opening its back contacta prevents the ener- In the present application,

ill

gization of lamp I, the circuit for which otherwise would be completedat front contact d of relay RI.

When relay LR picks up, following the first line interruption, theenergizing circuit for relay LC is closed again, relay L0 is held ickedup by the flow of current through its winding and rectifier 24, andrelayRI is held picked up over a first stick circuit including its own frontcontact a and back contact 0 of relay R2, which is similar to the firststick circuit for relay R20 already traced. The second stick circuit forrelay R20 is opened when relay LR picks up, and relay R20 then releasesquickly because this circuit includes the resistor 23 by which theenergization of relay R20 has been reduced to a value slightly above itsrelease point, and the circuit furthermore includes no rectifier forretarding its release.

When relay LR releases in response to the second interruption, theenergizing circuit for relay L0 is closed again, and relay R2 picks upover the circuit from terminal B at back contact a of relay LR, frontcontact b of relay LC, back contacts d of relays RIO and R20, frontcontact b of relay RI through relay R2 to terminal C. Contact 0 of relayR2 disconnects relay RI from rectifier 22 by which it is held energizedwhile relay R2 is picking up, and completes the second stick circuit forrelay RI which includes resistor 23.

When relay LR picks up following the second interruption, relay RIreleases quickly, due to the opening of its second stick circuit, and ifthere are no further line interruptions, rela LO releases, completing acircuit from terminal BX at its contact a over back contact d of relayCR and front contact (1 of relay R2 through lamp 2 to terminal CXthereby lighting lamp 2 to dis play the corresponding number in the yardindicator IS, and also lighting the corresponding lamp in the miniatureindicator 2S at the office.

It will be clear from the foregoing that when relay LR picks up after anumber of line interruptions, the last operated counting relay, Whichregisters the number, is held energized over its first stick circuit aslong as relay LR remains picked up, but the preceding relay releasesquickly, due to the opening of its second stick circuit, leaving onlyone counting relay energized when relay LR releases, the release of thelast operated relay is retarded by rectifier 22 only long enough toeffect the energization of the next relay and it consequently releasesif the next relay fails to pick up, which prevents the operation of thelatter relay in response to any subsequent interruption of the line incase it fails to respond to the one to which it is assigned.

In normal operation, however, a counting relay picks up in response toeach release of relay LR and establishes the second stick circuit forthe preceding relay to hold it energized. Each relay thereby holds itsown pick-up circuit closed,

since this circuit includes the front contact b of the preceding relay,and at the same time it holds the pick-up circuit for the nextsucceeding relay open, which circuit includes its own front contact band the back contact b of the preceding relay.

Assuming now that the line circuit is opened by the operation of switchIG or 2G after lamp 2 has been lighted as above described, relays R3 andLO will become energized, the operation of relay LO extinguishing lamp 2and. relay. LC F is deenergiz'ed and releases and inturn releases relaysR2(and'-R3, and atthe office', extinguishes lamp" E; The:- indicationdisplayed by the yard Assuming-now that switch 2G is closed again andthe number tenis dialed, relays Rl to RIB will'beoperated successivelyin response to the teninterruptions in the manner described; and when:relayRllr picks up it closes a circuit at its front' contact g to pickup relay CR, which relaythen completes a stick circuit at its contactaextending to terminal B at contact of relay LC. Relay CR prepares acircuit at its contact d for lamp Ill, and at its contact 0 preparesacircuit rendering relay Rl responsive to the 'next lineinterruption sothat the relay chain may -be Operated through a second cycle by dialingthe second digit ofthe numbers 11 to 20. In response tothe th lineinterruption, relay R20 picks up in place of relay RIO, over frontcontacts 1) of relays R9 and CR and back contacth of relay R! B.

It' will beseen that relay R3 will not respond to -the impulse by Whichrelay R20 is energized because its pick-up circuit includes back contact0 of relay CR which is now open. It will also be seen that each of thecounting relays except relay R'IO may be operated twice, but lamp 26 islighted only in response to the second operation ofrelay RZU- occurringwhen twenty interruptions have been received.

Referring now to Fig. 4, and more particularly tothe transmitter relay Tby which the control unit'is caused to generate the line interruptionsbyWhiCh it iscontrolled as above described; in this form of theapparatus a group of ten threeposition keys Kl-Kltl are provided, eachof which has a contact a which when moved to theleftprepares a circuitfor selecting the correspondingly numbered lamp I to It of Fig. 2,

and-when moved to the right prepares a circuit for selecting thecorresponding lamp in the secand group H-20. Each key K has a secondcontact' b, of which for simplicity but one is shown at the left of thegroup ofkeys, by which relay T'is 'maintained' in operation to transmitthe number of impulses needed to establish a holding circuit for relay Tover contact a of the operated key." A starting push button ST may alsobe-used, but for the present it Will be assumed that this is cut out ofcircuit by a connector 25.

I shallassume that the operator desires to light lamp '2," as in thepreceding example, and so moves key K2 to the left closing a pick-upcircuit forrelay T from terminal B at the key contact I) over backcontacts d of relay L0 and LC through relay T to terminal C. Relay Tpicks up; closing the line circuit of Fig. 3 at its contact b;energizing the line relay LR of the associated control unit and alsothat ofthe station control unit, the latter having the lamps ofthe yardindicator IS connected to the counting: relay contacts (1 and e in p eOf the y asrin Fig. 2.

Relays R29 and LC pickup as described in connection with Fig. 2, andrelay-LG opens the circuitror' relay T which therefore releases tolnterruptthe. line circuit, releasing relay LR,

whereupon'relays andRl pick up; and-since 61 relay 'R20is-iheldrenergizedlovm its second sticlr circuitlby relayzRiliasalreadydescribed,ia:pick up circuit for -relay'T is closed from' t'erminal B'at th 'e'lkey contact b over from cont'a'ct's'* f of re- "1 lays'R'i'and? R29; Relay T'therefore picksup again reenergizing relayiLR; whichcauses re layfR20' to release;- and inturn, to release relay T to causea second intermption of the line cir cult;

In response: to: the second" interruption; relay LR releases, energizing'relay R2: and: sin'ce relay RI remains picked up; a -new pick=upcircuit for relayT isiclosedyover contacts f 'of relays RI "and R2,. so.tha't relay-T picksiup to close thelinecir cult to again energizeirelayLR'.' Although relay? LR releases relayiRl to: open the pick-upcircuitfor relay T, nofurther interruptions occur'because when relay T.becomes energized following: the second line interruptionit iestablishes a stick 1 circuit at iitsi'contact at; which eXten'ds'over.back contact'd'of relay (JR-and front contactd of relay- R2. toterminalB at theleft-hand contact a of the operated? key K2.l- Relay-LOtherefore re leases, the release of relayLO'inthe station: controlunit'lightingelamp 2. i

It .will be: clear from. the foregoing'thatsince each of the successive.interruptions lot the line: circuit 1; results: in the energization of acounting.

relay "over the frontvicontact-b of the-next pre'ced ing. relay, theiclosing o1 the'circui't over the- -front contacts 1 of these:twocounting: relays indicates that: the operations. occurring duringthe'line" open period have been completediand thus occurs atthe'. propertime for energizing relay T to terminate the interruption. On the .tenthinterrup-- tion,. the operation of an additionali.-relay' CRzisrequired, and accordingly a front contact". if of relay: CR-is includedin thecircuit iinwserieswith:

contacts 1" off relays5R9 and'R I 0 :bywhich that.

interruption: is. terminated;- It will alsobeeclear that the operationsoccurring during the'inter mediate 1 line 'closed :periods arecompleted. when thereis only one counting relay picked up, followingvthe releaseof the preceding... relay, and the openingzof; contact 1 ofthe precedingrelay occurs' at the "proper time for initiating the nextinterruptionby releasing. relay T, provided the stick circuit: includingthe keyv contact a' and the front cont-act d or e of the energizedcounting relayis open.

- When the operated. key such as the key K2 is restored to its' normalposition, relay T releases opening the line circuit and restoring theapparatus to itsnormal condition.

If.switch IG is provided, as shown in Fig. 3, the closing of thisvswitchafter it has been opened long enough to release relays LC and LO wouldcomplete the first pick-up circuit for relay T, which includes the backcontacts d of these relays, so that the apparatus would be set' intooperation'upon the closing of'switch I G to light. lamp'2 again;provided contacts a and b of key K2 remain closed. To avoid this, ifswitch K3 is used, the connector-fins removed so as to include thecontact of the push button ST in the first pick-up circuit for relay T.With this modification the'momentary operation of the starting button STin addition'to the operation of a keyK is required to initiate theoperation .of the apparatus, and theoperation of switch I G, which byreleasing relay LC opens all of the circuits for relay T except the'one'controlled by button ST,

- is suflicient by itselfto restore the apparatustto' but one form ofapparatus embodying my inventlon and one modification thereof,- it isunderstood that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention.

,Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

I. In a signaling system, a two position line relay responsive to aseries of impulses, a chain of counting relays, pick-up circuits for aplurality of said relays each including a front contact of the nextpreceding counting relay, a back contact of the second precedingcounting relay of the series and a contact closed by the line relay inone position, a first stick circuit for each such counting relayincluding its own front contact, a back contact of the next succeedingcounting relay and a contact closed by the line relay in its otherposition, and a second stick circuit for each such counting relayincluding its own front, contact, a front contact of the next succeedingcounting relay and a contact closed by the line relay in said oneposition.

2. In a signaling system, a relay responsive to a series of impulses, achain of counting relays including one for each impulse, pick-up andstick circuits for a plurality of said relays each including a contactclosed by'the line relay in one position, the pick-up circuit for eachrelay including a front contact of the next preceding relay whereby eachrelay prepares a circuit for the next relay to be operated, said stickcircuit for each relay. including a front contact of the next relay tobe operated whereby each relay when operated holds the circuit preparedby the preceding relay closed until the line relay is operated to itsother position, and another stick circuit for each relay including aback contact of the next relay to be operated and a contact closed bythe line relay in its other position only.

3. In a signaling system, a twoposition line relay, a chain of countingrelays, pick-up circuits for a plurality of said relays each closed bythe line relay in one position each such circuit including a frontcontact of the last preceding counting relay to be operated and 'a backcontact.

of the second preceding counting relay of the series, a first stickcircuit for each such counting relay closed by the line relay in itsother position and including a back contact of the next counting relayto be operated, and a second stick circuit for each such relay closed bythe next succeedingv relay when such relay is operated by the line relayin said one position and opened by the line relay when it next assumesits other position.

4. In a signaling system, a two position line relay responsive to aseries of impulses, a chain of counting relays including one for each ofa plurality of said impulses, a pick-up circuit for each such relayincluding a contact closed by the line relay in one position and alsoincluding a front contact of the next preceding counting relay, a firststick circuit for each counting relay closed upon the operation of theline relay to its other position following the energization of suchcounting relay, a second stick circuit for each counting relay closedupon the next operation of said line relay to said one position only ifthe next succeeding counting relay becomes energized, and meanscomprising electronic rectifiers connected to said pick-up and firststick circuits to render each relay slow to release upon the openingofits pick-up or first stick circuit although quick to release when itssecond stick circuit is opened.

two position line '5. In a signaling system, a two position line relay,a slow release relay, a series of counting relays, an initiating circuitfor temporarily energizing one counting relay which also serves as thelast relay of the series, said circuit including a front contact of theline relay and a back contact of the slow release relay, a pick-upcircuit for the slow release relay including front contacts of the linerelay and of said one relay, a holding circuit for said one relayincluding its own front contact and a front contact of the line relay,and an energizing circuit for each counting relay of the seriesincluding a back contact of the line relay, that for the first countingrelay including 'a front contact of said one relay and that for eachremaining relay of the series including a front contact of the nextpreceding relay whereby said relays are energized successively, one foreach operation of the line relay, said one relay being the last to beenergized.

6. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain of countingrelays, pick-up and stick circuits for a plurality of said relays eachincluding a contact closed by the line relay in one position, thepick-up circuit for each relay including a front contact of the lastpreceding relay operated, said stick circuit for each such relayincluding a front contact of the next relay to be operated, anotherstick circuit for each such relay including a back contact of the nextrelay to be operated and a contact of the line relay closed in its otherposition, a transmitter relay effective When energized to operate theline relay to said other position, and a series of circuits forrepeatedly energizing said transmitter relay each of which includesfront contacts of the last operated counting relay and of the nextpreceding relay of the series.

7. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain of countingrelays, pick-up and stick circuits for a plurality of said relays eachincluding a contact closed by the line relay in one position, thepick-up circuit for each relay including a front contact of the lastpreceding relay operated, said stick circuit for each such relayincluding a front contact of the next relay to be operated. anotherstick circuit for each such relay including a back contact of the nextrelay to be operated and a contact of the line relay closed in its otherposition, a transmitter relay effective when energized to operate theline relay to said other position, a series of circuits for repeatedlyenergizing said transmitter relay each of which includes front contactsof the last operated counting relay and of the next preceding countingrelay, a series of manually operable keys including one for eachcounting relay, and a series of circuits including a front contact ofsaid transmitter relay for holding it steadily energized, each of whichalso includes a contact of a different one of said keys and a frontcontact of the corresponding counting relay,

8. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain of countingrelays, a slow release relay, an initiating circuit for energizing onecounting relay which includes a back contact of the slow release relayand a front contact of the line relay, a pick-up circuit for the slowrelease relay including a front contact of said one relay, means formaintaining said slow release relay picked up as long as the line relayis repeatedly energized, pick-up circuits for said counting relays eachincluding a back contact of the line relay and a front contact of thelast preceding counting relay to be operated, that for the first relayof the series including a front contact of said one relay, and those forthe remaining relays of the series also including a back contact of thesecond preceding relay operated, a first stick circuit for each countingrelay including a front contact of the line relay and a back contact ofthe next relay to be operated, and a second stick circuit for eachcounting relay including a back contact of the line relay and a frontcontact of the next counting relay to be operated.

9. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain of countingrelays, a slow release relay, an initiating circuit for energizing onecounting relay which includes a back contact of the slow release relayand a front contact of the line relay, a pick-up circuit for the slowrelease relay including a front contact of said one relay, means formaintaining said slow release relay picked up as long as the line relayis repeatedly energized, pick-up circuits for said counting relays eachincluding a back contact of the line relay and a front contact of thelast preceding counting relay to be operated, that for the first relayof the series including a front contact of said one relay, and those forthe remaining relays of the series also including a back contact of thesecond precedin relay operated, a first stick circuit for each countingrelay including a front contact of the line relay and a back contact ofthe next relay to be operated, a second stick circuit for each countingrelay including a back contact of the line relay and a front contact ofthe next counting relay to be operated, and means for repeatedlyenergizing said line relay to effect the successive operation of saidcounting relays, comprising a circuit having a plurality of differentbranches each including front contacts of the last operated countinrelay and of the next preceding counting relay.

10. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain ofcounting relays, a slOW release relay, an initiating circuit forenergizing one counting relay which includes a back contact of the slowrelease relay and a front contact of the line relay, a pick-up circuitfor the slow release relay including a front contact of said one relay,means for maintaining said. slow release relay picked up as long as theline relay is repeatedly energized, pick up circuits for said countingrelays each including a back contact of the line relay and a frontcontact of the last preceding counting relay to be operated, that forthe first relay of the series including a front contact of said onerelay, and those for the remaining relays of the series also including aback contact of the second preceding relay operated, a first stickcircuit for each counting relay including a front contact of the linerelay and a back contact of the next relay to be operated, a secondstick circuit for each counting relay including a back contact of theline relay and a front contact of the next counting relay to beoperated, a transmitter relay effective when energized to energize saidline relay, a series of manually operable keys one for each countingrelay, an energizing circuit for said transmitter relay closed, inresponse to the operation of any one of said keys having a plurality ofbranches one including a back contact of said slow release relay and theothers including front contacts of the last operated counting relay andof the next preceding relay, and a stick circuit for said transmitterrelay including its own front contact, a contact of the operated key anda front contact of the corresponding counting relay.

LLOYD V. LEWIS.

